Inching control: anyone have it?

[daugen]

I am fascinated by the inching control that JD now offers in the 4066R.
My only challenge is I need it in a larger heavier tractor.

Does anyone else make a system that moves the tractor backwards from a rear fender control?
sure would need to be careful with your feet using that I bet...

I have severe arthritis and hooking up three point implements, and I have lots of them, is very difficult for me.
Kubota has excellent extendable links but I still have to reposition myself a few times. Expensive LP quick hitch leaning on shed wall
gathering spiders and dust, worked terribly with too many things I tried it on.
So I'm back to basics, and now JD seems to have a seriously cool new accessory.

Are they copying this from anyone else?
As a retired insurance company underwriter, gotta tell you, keep thinking about those toes...

My guess is the answer is no.
Which means I have to find the easiest to use powershuttle in a 75hp utility tractor.
The PTO hookup often stumps me, been fighting them all my life and now with limited grip in one hand,
getting mowers on has just been awful for me. Wind up a greasy mess and it still isn't on...
Taking them off is surely easier. I see those cool quick connect hydraulic connectors you pull a big lever to attach,
sure wish someone would invent a different PTO arrangement for a utility tractor.
We've had the same tech since our grandfathers's time.

Probably could start another thread on tractors for arthritics...
But this inching control plus rear mounted controls for hydraulics, just looks like a much user friendlier place to be.

I bought extra used tractors just to avoid implement connection/disconnection.
Rather just have one nice airconditioned tractor with a buddy seat.

I have seen accessory systems where you add adapters to every single piece of equipment to be used, seems
like they are trying to overlay ancient tech with modern plug and play utility. I remain unconvinced though the concept
seems sound.
Drew

 

[mikester]

M59/M62 has an inching feature lever for when you are operating the backhoe. You have to be in the seat to make it go.

 

[Agvg]

Have seen it before, but if it was JD or somebody else I don't remember, must have been two years ago here in Europe if my memory is right. Very nice feature.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Seen it, can't believe they offer it. Because Lawyers.

 

[goeduck]

Advantage to having an older model where the inching feature is just tapping the reverse HST pedal while standing beside. No seat switch.

 

[strantor]

I inch my 2017 LS by gently pressing the HST pedals while standing next to the tractor. If you press them too hard (maybe better stated: if the tractor moves too far too fast) then the engine will die. But as long as you press them ever-so-gently and creep ever-so-slowly (the definition of inching, right?) Then it will comply; it might complain and beep, but it complies. I have found it very useful in hooking up attachments. Would be more useful if there were remote HST pedals at the back of the tractor, but it beats getting on & off 10 times.

 

[MHarryE]

Chuckle at the lawyer comment. For every lawsuit there is someone or their heirs who contacted the lawyer. In my accident investigations, I never dealt with a lawyer who had not first been contacted by a person or insurance company wanting to sue. Granted there are ambulance chasers - you see their ads on television constantly.

 

[prichard]

I inch my 2017 LS by gently pressing the HST pedals while standing next to the tractor. If you press them too hard (maybe better stated: if the tractor moves too far too fast) then the engine will die. But as long as you press them ever-so-gently and creep ever-so-slowly (the definition of inching, right?) Then it will comply; it might complain and beep, but it complies. I have found it very useful in hooking up attachments. Would be more useful if there were remote HST pedals at the back of the tractor, but it beats getting on & off 10 times.

I do the same. Little bumps don't kill the engine.

I also have Pat's quick hitch and love it. Mostly I can just back up and lift. Still have to get off for the top link but so much easier than standard lift arm arrangement.

 

[daugen]

I wonder if my Kubota would do that. Mowing fields today. Will put it at idle, and try pressing on the reverse treadle. Standing besides the tractor for sure. Funny, I thought those seat presence switches would prevail but clearly they don't.

I see the new Kubota M4 has lift arm controls optional in the rear. If one could do what we are discussing with that,
now there's an alternative tractor.

 

[chim]

I bought a quick hitch several years ago and still haven't installed it because some of my implements would need mods to fit. I've come to appreciate a simple tool that makes a big difference when connecting 3 point implements- a San Angelo bar. It has a point on the one end that is easy to stick in the ground and then use the bar to coax the implement into alignment.

I had some really tough digging to do about 5 years ago and my regular digging iron wasn't penetrating the hard packed clay. Someone wrote praises about their San Angelo bar, so I bought one. The point mentioned earlier is a really wicked tool for hard ground, and the design of the chisel end works better than my other digging iron. The chisel end is very short compared with the regular digging iron and the angle is a little different. Being so short, I believe the efficiency comes from not having friction between the dirt and the long "cheeks".

I had some extra orange paint and gave it a few good coats to make it more noticeable. An unintended benefit was that it stays cool to the touch on the sunniest days. When it was black, you'd best have gloves to pick it up after a short time in the sun.

 

[LouNY]

That JD inching control sounds interesting,
as far as rear fender controls many tractors have 3 point controls and some have pto control on the rear fenders,
sometimes on both sides usually the left side.

 

[strantor]

I wonder if my Kubota would do that. Mowing fields today. Will put it at idle, and try pressing on the reverse treadle. Standing besides the tractor for sure. Funny, I thought those seat presence switches would prevail but clearly they don't.

I see the new Kubota M4 has lift arm controls optional in the rear. If one could do what we are discussing with that,
now there's an alternative tractor.

My LS also has the rear 3pt controls, standard. As well as rear remotes, standard. FEL is standard too.

 

[daugen]

If I didn't have other major dealers nearby, I'd go check out LS. Still might, I think they are headquartered here...

I remembered to try out my Grand L Kubota to see if it would go backwards while I stood outside the cab and gently pushed
down on the reverse treadle. Interestingly, it did not stall immediately. Instead, auto throttle electronics kicked in, started to raise the rpm,
and then it died. After moving not a hair. No joy, no inching.

Kubota now has an M4 coming out, with rear 3pt controls optional, and their extendable links.
No inching. Maybe Japanese toes are extra tender...

In my perfect world, I'd like a lever to pull to connect hydraulics, a lever to pull to connect the pto, just like the levers on Kubota's SSQA adapter.
Click in, click out.

I think only JD's smaller models, like a two or three series has some contraption where your pto connector can be driven into. Reminds me of in flight fueling.

Who could live without a crow bar? I couldn't, not with getting a LP disc harrow connected. That thing so does not move anywhere...
Big heavy bar, maybe 8 feet long. Grew up with using one in PA digging up granite boulders and shale, miserable ground to dig in and we sure didn't own a phd. So that big bar is an old friend. But seriously inconvenient and not so easy on the body.

 

[chim]

..................................In my perfect world, I'd like a lever to pull to connect hydraulics, a lever to pull to connect the pto, just like the levers on Kubota's SSQA adapter.
Click in, click out....................................

In my perfect world:

Kubota Auto Hitch with snowblower & blade - YouTube

 

[rngrrymd]

In my perfect world:

Kubota Auto Hitch with snowblower & blade - YouTube

Powerball Jackpot - currently $253 Million
Megamillions Jackpot - currently $405 Million

That Auto Hitch is sweet but $8,717 list price from Kubota.

 

[daugen]

what a marvelous contraption.
reminds me of the seriously cool garden tractor trash bins one used to be able to get, I think from JD ?,
that had hydraulic arms and lifted the rear bags out, dumped them, and returned to the mower and you never had to get out of your seat.

Why don't they have them any more? I can guess....all those lift arms and hydraulic cylinders, have to believe they are going to get bent by not so careful operation, and then warranty claims and unhappiness. Simply too complicated.
Trick is to make it easy but also durable as can be. Without costing 8 grand...(that might include the cost of the whole front pto drivetrain also?)
When I priced my L it was close to 8 grand to put a blower on it 6 years ago.

The Europeans have been doing front pto implements for a long time. I think we are just catching up to them,
but checking all the blocks will make for a very expensive tractor.
I hope Kubota figured it out here.
Maybe they can migrate that quick connect concept to other implements.

JD dealer said they had never seen a unit come in with inching control.
I really wonder if it is truly available.

 

[oosik]

I can definitely sympathize with daugen and his condition. First off - hooking up most any 3-point implement is not all that easy. Then my M6040 is hydraulic shuttle. Meaning - how good is your left foot on the clutch. When I had the smaller tractor with all the class 1 implements - I could usually horse them that final inch or so - into position to connect. Now that all my implements are class 2 - I can not do than any longer.

My M6040 has extendable lower link ends - a great help. And right now I'm looking to get an adjustable spud wrench - its for that final 1/4 inch.

So DAUGEN - do not feel that you are alone here. My poor old hands and aching body completely understand your situation.

BTW - I just wonder if those rear fender controls are an accident looking for a place to happen. I can just see feet being run over and much worse. Maybe I'm just too old school and worry too much.

 

[daugen]

BTW - I just wonder if those rear fender controls are an accident looking for a place to happen. I can just see feet being run over and much worse. Maybe I'm just too old school and worry too much.

what you are is careful. And just like using an old fashioned buzz saw that are still sold today, there's certain built in risk you have to
agree to accept. Which folks do until they get hurt and then of course one of those lawyers on tv get called. I was an insurance underwriter for more than 20 years and it's remarkable how many ways people can hurt themselves by not being careful. I never adjusted liability claims, only property, but I read all the claims. The insurance industry press always reports the wacky stuff, makes for great reading in a boring topic.

So, in this what they call "litigious" environment, here comes Deere with this very useful improvement and you bet I think it's risky too.
But I want it, and I think they know it....classic marketing, but it has to get by legal. And someone signed off, or that marketing piece would not have been put out, the pdf I posted, though I wonder if they put it out there to get reaction.

Ok, let's make this simple. I want rear mounted controls to move the tractor exceptionally slowly. I will endure a necessary beeper during
all operation. I will accept the responsibility for safe operation, just like I do currently dangerous spinning pto shafts.
Hear that JD?
Maybe they should have a remote with either a ten foot cord or wireless if the issue is not running over your own toe.
And how do you prevent the entire mechanism from getting stuck on? Stuck off is a lot better...